Vinesh Phogat was under his guidance for 12 years, from 2004 to 2016. He is Mahavir Phogat, the first Dronacharya in Indian wrestling and the uncle of Vinesh Phogat who created history in the Olympics on Tuesday night, reaching the final in her 50kg category. 

Mahavir was not only elated watching Vinesh on Tuesday, but he became nostalgic also. He was remembering the discipline and dedication Vinesh used to maintain in her early days.

Mahavir explained, "I have not forgotten the day when I was not being able to reach the coaching center (my akada) due to a tremendous storm and torrential rain. I reached almost one hour after the scheduled training time. None of my students could reach the centre in time for training. I saw only Vinesh reached there.”

He continued, “She never missed the training in morning and evening. Even she continued practicing the new techniques after three hours of scheduled training ended. She still maintains the discipline and dedication even after overcoming so many hurdles and that is her strength. At the same time Vinesh has a killing instinct that plays a crucial role when she is on the mat.”

Talking about hurdles, Mahavir claimed this performance has been undoubtedly a big slap on Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). "Vinesh had to go through extreme levels of insult, psychologically and physically also when police evicted her from the roads along with Bajrang and Sakhshi. Then again Vinesh suffered a severe knee injury. Still, she did not give up. She could only earn qualification for the Paris Olympics due to her tremendous dedication and discipline,” explained Mahavir.

Dronacharya however does not feel Vinesh’s style of play has changed than she learned from her legendary uncle. “She has sharpened the techniques that I taught her in her early days. She has that same aggressive style of offering counter-attacks."

He continued, "She has the same style of confusing opposition by offering sudden and quick footwork. I also taught her how to bring variation in speedy movements. She has mastered all these techniques now.”

Vinesh drew the attention of India's wrestling fraternity first in 2009 by winning the gold medal in the Cadet Asian Championship. Mahavir revealed that he realized immediately after the medal that Vinesh has a bright future. It has come true now.